Nutrition
The most common preventive therapy is a daily dose of the antibiotic isoniazid (INH) taken as a single daily pill for six to nine months. You are not contagious if you have latent TB. How Is Active TB Treated?
What is the best treatment for tuberculosis?
The TB infection control program should be based on a three-level hierarchy of control measures and include: 1 Administrative measures 2 Environmental controls 3 Use of respiratory protective equipment
What are the three levels of control for tuberculosis (TB)?
If you are having trouble with tingling and numbness, your doctor may prescribe a vitamin B6 supplement while you are in treatment. It may also be possible to change TB medications if your side effects are serious. If you are taking TB medicine on your own, it's important to get into a routine.
What should I do if I am having trouble taking TB medicine?
The TB infection control program should be based on a three-level hierarchy of control measures and include: (NTCA) released updated recommendations on the frequency of TB screening, testing, and treatment for health care personnel.
What are the NTCA recommendations for TB infection control?
How long does it take to treat TB?
TB disease can be treated by taking several drugs for 6 to 9 months. There are 10 drugs currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating TB. Of the approved drugs, the first-line anti-TB agents that form the core of treatment regimens are: isoniazid (INH) rifampin (RIF)
What is it called when TB bacteria multiply?
When TB bacteria become active (multiplying in the body) and the immune system can’t stop the bacteria from growing, this is called TB disease. TB disease will make a person sick. People with TB disease may spread the bacteria to people with whom they spend many hours.
What is XDR TB?
Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR TB) is a rare type of MDR TB that is resistant to isoniazid and rifampin, plus any fluoroquinolone and at least one of three injectable second-line drugs (i.e., amikacin, kanamycin, or capreomycin). Treating and curing drug-resistant TB is complicated.
Can TB be treated?
It is very important that people who have TB disease are treated, finish the medicine, and take the drugs exactly as prescribed. If they stop taking the drugs too soon, they can become sick again; if they do not take the drugs correctly, the TB bacteria that are still alive may become resistant to those drugs.
How to educate patients about TB?
Educating patients about TB disease helps ensure their successful completion of therapy. Health-care providers must take the time to explain clearly to patients what medication should be taken, how much, how often, and when. Patients should be clearly informed about possible adverse reactions to the medications they are taking and when to seek necessary medical attention. Providing patients with the knowledge they need regarding the consequences of not taking their medicine correctly is very important. In addition, patients should be educated about infection control measures and potential need for isolation (Table 6.1). HIV testing and counseling is recommended for all patients with TB disease in all health-care settings. The patient must first be notified that testing will be performed. The patient has the right to decline HIV testing and counseling (opt-out screening).
How long does it take to treat TB?
As a general rule, the principles used for the treatment of pulmonary TB disease also apply to extrapulmonary forms of the disease. A 6-month treatment regimen is recommended for patients with extrapulmonary TB disease, unless the organisms are known or strongly suspected to be resistant to the first-line drugs. If PZA cannot be used in the initial phase, the continuation phase must be increased to 7 months. The exception to these recommendations is central nervous system TB, for which the optimal length of therapy has not been established but some experts recommend 9 to 12 months. Most experts do recommend corticosteroids to be used as additional therapy for patients with TB meningitis and pericarditis. Consultation with a TB expert is recommended.
What are the four drugs that are included in the initial treatment regimen?
Four drugs— INH, RIF, PZA, and EMB — should be included in the initial treatment regimen until the results of drug-susceptibility tests are available. Each of the drugs in the initial regimen plays an important role. INH and RIF allow for short-course regimens with high cure rates. PZA has potent sterilizing activity, which allows further shortening of the regimen from 9 to 6 months. EMB helps to prevent the emergence of RIF resistance when primary INH resistance is present. If drug-susceptibility test results are known and the organisms are fully susceptible, EMB need not be included. For children whose clarity or sharpness of vision cannot be monitored, EMB is usually not recommended except when the risk of drug resistance is high or for children who have “adult-type” (upper lobe infiltration, cavity formation) TB disease.
How long is the TB continuation phase?
The continuation phase of treatment is given for either 4 or 7 months. The 4-month continuation phase should be used in patients with uncomplicated, noncavitary, drug-susceptible TB, if there is documented sputum conversion within the first 2 months. The 7-month continuation phase is recommended only for
What is the recommended treatment regimen based on?
The recommended treatment regimens are based, in large part, on evidence from clinical trials and are rated on the basis of a system developed by the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) (Table 6.3).
What are the drugs that treat TB?
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of TB disease (Table 6.2). In addition, the fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and gatifloxacin), although not approved by the FDA for TB disease, are commonly used to treat TB disease caused by drug-resistant organisms or for patients who are intolerant of some first-line drugs. Rifabutin, approved for use in preventing Mycobacterium avium complex disease in patients with HIV infection but not approved for TB disease, is useful for treating TB disease in patients concurrently taking drugs that interact with rifampin (e.g., certain antiretroviral drugs). Amikacin and kanamycin, nearly identical aminoglycoside drugs used in treating patients with TB disease caused by drug-resistant organisms, are not approved by the FDA for treatment of TB.
How long does it take to develop a TB control plan?
For each patient with newly diagnosed TB disease, a specific treatment and monitoring plan should be developed in collaboration with the local TB control program within 1 week of the presumptive diagnosis. This plan should include:
What is a TB control plan?
A tuberculosis (TB) infection control plan is part of a general infection control program designed to ensure the following: 1 prompt detection of infectious TB patients, 2 airborne precautions, and 3 treatment of people who have suspected or confirmed TB disease.
What are the measures to reduce the risk of exposure?
The following measures can be taken to reduce the risk for exposure: Implementing a respiratory protection program; Training health care personnel on respiratory protection; and. Educating patients on respiratory hygiene and the importance of cough etiquette procedures. Page last reviewed: May 14, 2019.
What is the best treatment for TB?
The most common treatment for active TB is isoniazid INH in combination with three other drugs—rifampin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol. You may begin to feel better only a few weeks after starting to take the drugs but treating TB takes much longer than other bacterial infections.
How long does it take to treat TB?
The treatment for this type of TB takes much longer, 20 to 30 months to complete, and you may experience more side effects.
What are the side effects of TB?
While you are in treatment for active TB disease, you will need regular checkups to make sure your treatment is working. Everyone is different, but there are side effects associated with taking the medications, including: 1 Upset stomach, nausea and vomiting or loss of appetite 2 Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet 3 Itchy skin, rashes or bruising 4 Changes in your eyesight or blurred visions 5 Yellowish skin or eyes 6 Dark-colored urine 7 Weakness, fatigue or fever that for three or more days
What are the symptoms of TB?
Yellowish skin or eyes. Dark-colored urine. Weakness, fatigue or fever that for three or more days. It is important to tell your doctor or TB nurse immediately if you begin having any unusual symptoms while taking medicine for either preventive therapy or for active TB disease.
Can TB cause liver damage?
TB drugs can be toxic to your liver, and your side effects may be a warning sign of liver damage . If you are having trouble with tingling and numbness, your doctor may prescribe a vitamin B6 supplement while you are in treatment. It may also be possible to change TB medications if your side effects are serious.
Can you get TB from taking too much medicine?
You must finish your medicine and take the drugs exactly as prescribed. If you stop taking the drugs too soon you can become sick again and potentially spread the disease to others. Additionally, by taking the drugs incorrectly, TB germs that are still alive may become drug-resistant, making it harder for you to get better next time.